Essays

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The annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK (book now for July 12-15, 2018) is a model for a startup event I’d like to host. It brings together all manner of motorsports enthusiasts who are trying to get to the finish line in …

You may have a goofy-looking golf swing, or an unusual bend in your ball flight, but, if you can repeat that time after time, you can score really well. If you are confident that each shot will behave the same as the one before, …

My mission in my new role at TechSquare Labs in Atlanta involves not only evaluating startups as potential investment candidates but also curating them for inclusion in our workspace. In the latter case, we’re primarily looking for teams working on ideas of technical consequence. …

This the 21st installment of Startup Decision Making will conclude my writing until after the Holidays. I must take a moment to acknowledge the many kind greetings upon my return to Atlanta and the many well wishes as I departed Austin. Both cities are …

Are we teaching founders more than they need to know? Having over the last several years been involved in teaching undergraduate entrepreneurship, mentoring or judging countless business concepts for various competitions, and also deeply immersed in longer-term advisory roles, I have come to reflect …

Many of you have probably read by now that I am returning from Austin to my roots in Atlanta. This will not be a personal essay about that move, which is motivated by family and opportunity, but it does give me reason to address …

This week’s essay is inspired by my reading the book Engineers of Victory by Paul Kennedy. I am very well read in military history from the Civil War through Vietnam, which you regular followers will know I find more instructive on management and leadership …

Several conversations over the last month have turned to the topic of helping entrepreneurs. Having recently addressed founders in my chapter “Be Coachable,” allow me please in this essay to address this matter to you providers of help. As you probably know, I prefer …

A frequent metaphor I use in customer acquisition, fundraising, or any kind of deal making is that you as the founder and promoter should present the finished meal on the dining table and not drag your counterparts into the kitchen. The decision is yours …

Every startup that achieves momentum, say even ten people or more, begins to slot its talent into appropriate specializations. Internally the job boundaries may be a bit fuzzy as employees help each other, but when you send a team out into the world for …